Rotary hammer or the like

ABSTRACT

A rotary hammer or the like including a holder for a tool, a power source, and a drive train through which rotary motion of the power source is transmitted to the tool holder. The hammer also includes mechanism which is operable to impart periodic axial impacts to a tool in the holder, when desired, and mechanism for disabling the impact imparting mechanism so that rotary motion only is applied to the tool.

United States Patent Koehler 51 Aug. 22, 1972 [54] ROTARY HAMIVIER OR THE LIKE [72] Inventor: Heinrich P. Koehler, Camillus, NY.

[73] Assignee: Rockwell Manufacturing Company,

Pittsburgh, Pa.

[22] Filed: Aug. 3, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 60,545

[52] US. Cl. ..173/48, 173/109, 173/120, 173/123 [51] Int, Cl. ...B25d 11/10, E2lc 7/06 [58] Field of-Search ..173/47, 48, 109, 119, 120, 173/123 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,270,752 1/1942 Drennon ..l73/l 19 X 3,334,694 8/1967 Schnettler 173/ 123 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 195,868 7/1957 Austn'a ..l73/109 1,457,220 9/1966 France ..173/47 Primary Examiner-Ernest R. Purser Attorney-Strauch, Nolan, Neale, Nies & Kurz [57] ABSTRACT A rotary hammer or the like including a holder for a tool, a power source, and a drive train through which rotary motion of the power source is transmitted to the tool holder. The hammer also includes mechanism which is operable to impart periodic axial impacts to a tool in the holder, when desired, and mechanism for disabling the impact imparting mechanism so that rotary motion only is applied to the tool.

12 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 22, 1972 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR l/H/V/P/Ofi KOfHLE/P Q I I BY I dtfleg ATTORNE 5 Patented Aug. 22, 1972 3,685,594

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 22, 1972 5 Sheets-Sheet' 5 ROTARY HAMMER OR THE LIKE This invention relates to power driven devices and, more particularly, to power driven devices such as rotary hammers and the like.

By rotary hammer is meant a device in which a drill bit or other tool is rotated and also subjected to repeated axial impacts. Such devices are used for drilling holes in concrete, masonry, and the like and fan many other tasks.

To increase the versatility of rotary hammers, they may be equipped with a selector which can be manipulated to disable (i.e., make ineffective) the impact imparting mechanism of the hammer. In these circumstances rotary motion only will be imparted to the tool, and the hammer can accordingly be used as an ordinary drill.

Rotary hammers are also in some cases designed to accept tools so configured that the tool is not rotated, but only axially impacted. This further increases the versatility of the tool.

A number of rotary hammers have heretofore been proposed. Exemplary are those disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 3,123,156issued Mar. 3, 1964, to Gapstur'for ROTARY AND PERCUSSIVE TOOL: 3,334,694 issued Aug. 8, 1967, to Schnettler for ROTARY I-IAMIVIER: and 3,395,765 issued Aug. 6, 1968, to

Schnettler far SMALL ROTARY HAMMER.

One of the important and primary objects of the present invention resides in the provision of novel, improved power driven devices such as rotary hammers and the like.

A related important and primary object of the invention is the provision of novel, improved rotary hammers and the like which have advantages and features not possessed by heretofore proposed power driven devices of this type including those disclosed in the patents identified above.

In general the novel devices of the present invention include a rotatably mounted holder in which the shank end of the drill bit or other tool is secured and a motor for rotating the tool holder and accordingly the tool secured therein. The motor also rotates a cam engageable with a rectilinearly mounted driver positioned in striking relationship to the tool or tool holder and biased toward these components by a compression spring, for example. As the cam rotates, it first moves the driver away from the tool holder, compressing the driver biasing spring. The cam then releases the driver, and the spring expands, driving the driver against the tool or tool holder.

One of the important features of the novel power driven devices of the present invention as briefly described in the preceding paragraph is an improved arrangement for disabling or making inefiective the impact producing mechanism when rotary motion only is desired. In certain forms of the invention this is accomplished by locking the driver in a retracted position. Other forms of the invention employ a clutch in the drive train between the motor and the driver retracting cam, and the selector mechanism keeps the clutch hammers the striker is mounted in front and rear bearings typically located in two difierent sections of the hammer casing. Due to the difficulty of precisely aligning the front and rear bearings, such devices typically suffer from the consequences of misaligned bearings vibration, excessive wear, etc.

As will be discussed in detail hereinafter, the problems appurtenant to such misalignment can be eliminated by the use of a novel arrangement in which the driver is foreshortened and mounted for rectilinear movement in a single bearing. This arrangement also permits the device to be made shorter and more compact, which is another decided advantage.

Other novel and important features, further objects, and additional advantages of the present'invention will become apparent from the appended claims and as the ensuing detailed description and discussion proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. I is a section through a rotary hammer constructed in accord with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the rotary hammer of FIG. 1 with part of the hammer casing broken away to show the details of a selector incorporated in the hammer to control its mode of operation;

FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the rotary hammer of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of arrows 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an end view of a cam employed in the rotary hammer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a second form of rotary hammer l-in accord with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a third form of rotary hammer constructed in accord with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a fourth form of rotary hammer constructed in accord with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a section through the rotary hammer of FIG. 7, taken substantially along line 8-8 of the latter Figure;

FIG. 9 is a side view of a drill designed for use in rotary hammers of the type described herein; and

FIG. 10 is a side view of a tool designed for use in rotary hammers of the type described herein when axial impact on without rotation of the tool is wanted.

Referring now to the drawing, FIG. 1 depicts a rotary hammer 20 constructed in accord with the principles of the present invention. The major components of rotary hammer 20 include a closed type tool holder 22 rotatably mounted in a casing 247 an arrangement for rotating the tool holder including a motor 26 connected to the tool holder through a drive train identified generally by reference character 28, mechanism 30 for imparting axial impacts to a tool 32 (See FIG. 9) mounted in tool holder socket 34 and secured in place by a conventional spring type retainer 36, and a selector mechanism 38 (See FIGS. 2 and 3) for disabling the impact mechanism when rotation only of tool 32 is desired. The operation of rotary hammer 20 is controlled by a conventional trigger switch- 40 mounted in the handle section 42 of casing 24.

Many details of tool 20 such as the specific structure of motor 26 and switch 40 are conventional or are not 3 fasteners which, for the mostvpart, are not shown in the drawing.

Seated in the aperture 50 in casing front end section 48 and secured in place by fasteners 52 and nuts 56 is a nosepiece 58 through which an axial bore 60 is formed. Tool holder 22 is rotatably supported in nosepiece 58 and in the front end section 48 of tool casing 24 by spaced apart front and rear bearings 62 and 64. Front bearing 62 is seated in a recess 66 in nosepiece 58. Rear bearing 64 is pressed or otherwise fitted into a recess 70 formed in a bearing holder or support 72. The

bearing support is fixed to a boss 74 extending inwardly from intermediate casing section 46 as by threaded fasteners 76.

An O-ring 78 is seated in a recess 80 in the forward.

. driver 84 incorporated in impact producing mechanism 30as the driver moves in the direction indicated by arrow 86 in FIG. 1. The forward movement of the tool holder is limited by. the engagement of a gear 88 integrally formed on too] holder 22 with a washer 90. This washer is seated in a recess 92 in nose member 58 and is separated from a shoulder 94 at the forward end of the recess by an O-ring 96 and a washer 98. O-ring 96 is compressed during forward movement of the tool holder tocushionthe impact of the tool holder against the nose piece 58 of the tool casing.

The motor 26 provided to rotate tool holder 22 is mounted in a support 100fixed to the 'rearmost-intermediate section 44 of hammer casing 24. The motor shaft 102 is rotatably supported at its end by a bearing 106 which is mounted in a bearing holder 108 locatedin the handle section 42 of the casing. The front end of shaft 102 is supported in a bearing 110 located in a recess 112 in intermediate casing section 46.

The input element of the drive train or mechanism 28 by which tool holder 22 is connectedto motor shaft 102 is a pinion 114 on the front end. of the motor shaft.

This pinion meshes with a gear 116 fixed to an intermediate shaft 118. The rear end of the intermediate v shaft is rotatably supported in a bearing 120, which is mounted in a recess 122 formed in intermediate casing section 46. The front end of the shaft is rotatably supported in a bearing 124, which is seated in a recess 126 in front end casing section 48.

J Formed on intennediate shaft 118 adjacent gear 116 is a gear having teeth 128. These teeth mesh with the teeth 130 on gear 88. As mentioned, above, the latter gear is integral with tool holder 22. Accordingly, as shaft 102 rotates, the pinion 114 at its forward end rotates gear 116, which in turn rotates intermediate shaft 1 18; and the gear teeth formed on the latter rotate gear 88, and, consequently, tool holder 22.

' The drill identified by reference character 32and shown in its entirety in FIG. 9 is typical of the tools which will be employed when rotation of the tool is desired. Such tools are provided with a shankv (identified by reference character 131 in FIG. 9) configured to matchthe socket 34in to'ol holder 22. With such a tool secured in the socket, the tool is rotated by the tool holder 22 when the latter is rotated by gear 88 in the manner described in the'preceding paragraph.

The impact imparting mechanism 30 referred to above is provided so that axial impacts may be applied to tool 32 at the same time that it is rotated by motor 26 Driver 84 is a short, relatively massive member having a recess 136-into'which the closed end 82 of tool holder 22 extends. The driver is supported for rectilinear or back-and-forth movement in a bearing 138. The bearing is seated in a recess 140 at the forward end of easing section 44 and extends into casing section 46. As discussed above, this novel driver sup porting arrangement eliminates a number of problems appurtenant to the driver mounting arrangements in heretofore proposed rotary hammers and the like.

Compression spring 134 is also mounted in intermediate casing section 44.. The front end of the spring is supported by a boss 142 on the rearend of driver 84.

The rear end of the spring is supported by a boss 1.44

extending forwardly from the rear wall 146 of intermediate casing section 44and surrounded by a sleeve 84, moving the driver toward the rear of hammer 20 and compressing spring 134. This continues until the high end 152 of the cam rides by the driver, releasingit for forward movement. At this point, compression I spring 134 expands, driving driver 84 forwardly against the closed end 82 of tool holder 22 to impart an axial 'impact to the tool 32 secured therein.

As best shown in FIG. 1, a thrust bearing 155 separated from gear 116 by a spacer 156 is mounted in the front end of easing section 46. This bearing absorbs the reaction force exerted on gear 116' and therefore intermediate shaft 118 by spring 134 as cam 132 compresses the spring. Also, as tool holder 22 is impacted and moves forwardly in casing 24, the intermediate shaft tends to be moved in the same direction because of the frictional forces between the teeth 130 on gear 88 and the gear teeth 128 on the intermediate shaft. This force is also absorbed by thrust bearing 155.

As indicated above, it may in some instances be desirable to disable or make ineffective the impact imparting mechanism just described; i.e., to impart rotary motion only to a tool in tool holder 22. The previously mentioned selector mechanism 38 is provided for this purpose.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the selector mechanism includes a shaft 157 rotatablyseated in an aperture 158 through a boss 159 in intermediate casing section 46. Shaft 157 is retained in place by a disk or plate 160 fixed to its inner end and by a selector member-162 fixed to its outer end as by a retainer 164. Selector 162 is seated in a recess 166 in casing section 46 and is provided with an integral indicator 170, which cooperates with indicia 172 and 174 on the easing to indicate whether the tool is adjusted to produce rotary motion of tool 32 plus axial impact or rotary mo tion only.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 2, an eccentric pin or stop 176 is fixed to the inner side of plate 160. With indicator 170 in the impact plus rotary movement or H position, stop 176 is located as shown in FIG. 2. With the stop in this position, driver 84 is alternately retracted by cam 132 and driven forward by spring 134, and tool holder 22 and the tool therein are rotated all in the manner described above. This produces continuous rotation of and periodic axial impacts on tool 32.

When rotary motion only is desired, the selector mechanism is rotated until indicator 170 is in the D position. As the selector is rotated, stop 176 engages the forward end 154 of driver 84, moving it toward the rear of hammer 20 against the biasing force of spring 134 and then maintaining it in this retracted position. Accordingly, driver 84 is prevented from moving forward and striking tool holder 22 as gear 116 rotates; and no axial impacts are imparted to the tool.

The selector mechanism 38 may be rotated between the H and D positions in any desired fashion. For example, a socket 177 for an Allen wrench may be provided in the outer end of shaft 157 for this purpose.

In addition to rotation plus hammering and rotation only, hammer 20 can be utilized to produce hammering only. For this mode of operation a tool having around shank such as the tool 178 shown in FIG. is employed. The tool is retained in the hammer with shank 179 extending into socket 34 by retainer 36. Accordingly, axial impacts are imparted to the tool as tool holder 22 is struck by driver 84. However, as there is no drive connection between tool shank 179 and the tool holder, no rotary motion is imparted to the tool.

The principles of the present invention may of course be embodied in rotary hammers or the like differing considerably in appearance from the hammer just described. One example is the hammer illustrated in FIG. 5 and identified by reference character 180. Turning now to this Figure, rotary hammer 180 has a number of features common to it and hammer 20. To the extent that the two hammers are alike, the components thereof are identified by the same reference characters.

There are a number of minor differences between hammers 180 and 20. These, however, are not critical in the practice of the present invention and will accordingly not be alluded to further.

The main difference between the two hammers is that the motor 26 of the latter is mounted in a depending casing section 182 with the axis of rotation of its shaft 102 intersecting the axis of rotation of intermediate shaft 118 at right angles and is supported at its upper end by a bearing 183 disposed in partition 184. Also, in this version of the invention, the pinion 114 on the motor output shaft is replaced with bevel gear teeth 185. These teeth mesh with teeth 186 on a bevel gear The operation of this hammer is essentially the same I as that of hammer 20 as will be apparent to those skilled in the arts to which the present invention pertains.

Yet another rotary hammer embodying the principles of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 6 and identified by reference character 196. Again, to. the extent that this embodiment of the invention resembles those described above, the same reference characters have been employed to identify like components.

Rotary hammer 196 differs from hammer 20 primarily in the construction of driver 198, in the manner in which the driver is supported for rectilinear movement in the hammer casing, and in the substitution of an open type tool holder 200 for the closed type holder 22 employed in tool 20. Driver 198 is an elongated member having a relatively small diameter forward portion 201 which extends through an aperture 202 in the rear end of tool holder 200 and engages the shank end or head 204 of tool 32. An O-ring 206 disposed in a recess 208 communicating with aperture 202 keeps lubricant from leaking between the driver and the tool holder to the exterior of hammer 196.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, the forward end of driver 198 is supported from the tool holder. The rear end of the driver is rotatably 'supported in a member 210 fixed to intermediate section 212 of hammer casing 214. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the rear portion 216 of the driver extends through a bore 218 in support member 210 and terminates in a head 220 on the opposite side of support member wall 222 from tool holder 200.

As in rotary hammer 20, provision is made in hammer 196 for cushioning the forward, impacting movement of driver 198. This mechanism takes the form of a Belleville spring 223 disposed between driver head 220 and driver support member wall 222 by a sleeve 224 in support 210. This sleeve is in tumretained in position by a spacer 226 and a retainer 228.

This embodiment of the invention operates in substantially the same manner as the rotary hammer 20 described above. Perhaps the most significant difference is that driver 198 impacts directly on too] 32 rather than on tool holder 200. Accordingly, the tool holder may be axially fixed in hammer casing 214 and the sliding movement between the gear 230 integral with the tool holder and the gear rotating pinion 232 fixed to intermediate shaft 118 thus eliminated. This may, in some applications of the invention, contribute to extended service life.

Also, in this version of the invention, the surface of cam 132 does not engage the forward end of the driver. Instead, it cooperates with a surface 234 formed on the forward or tool side of annular driver flange 236.

A further difference between the rotary hammers 196 and 20 is in the details of the selector mechanism v238 employed in the former. In mechanism 238, shaft 157 is retained in place by a selector knob 240 on the exterior side of casing section 212 and by a stop 242 on the inner side of the casing section 212 and is surrounded by a sleeve type bearing 244. Selector knob 240 replaces the socket 177 of selector mechanism 38, and stop 242 serves the same function as the stop 176 of the earlier described selector mechanism.

Also, in this embodiment of the invention, the front end of driver 198 is rotatably supported in a bearing 245a which is mounted in a bearing holder 245b fixed to casing section 212. As discussed above in conjunction with the embodiment of FIG. 1, this type of arrangement has the advantage that problems resulting from misalignment between the driver and the too holder are minimized, if not eliminated.

In this embodiment, bearing holder 245b keeps tool holder 200 from moving toward the handle end of the tool. A second bearing 245C also mounted in holder 245b provides a wear surface between the bearing holder and the tool holder. There are also a number of constructional features of lesser importance which differ in rotary hammers v and 196. For example, in the latter hammer, tool holder 200 is mounted ina bore 246 extending through nose member 248 rather than in bearings in separate casing members as in hammer 20. Also, compression spring 134 is supported at its rear end by a ledge 250 in driver. support member wall 222 and atits front end by diver. flange 236 from which it is separated by spacer 252. There are also some differences in the manner in which the motor 26 is supported in the tool casing, in the support arrangement for intermediate shaft 118, and in the details of the components such as pinion I 232, for example. However, these differences are again not critical to the practice of the present invention; and

itis, accordingly, not considered essential to describe 3 As shown in FIG. 7, compression type clutch spring 264 is mounted in recesses 278 and 280 formed in theapposed faces'274 and 272 of the clutch input and output members. Accordingly, the clutch spring tends to bias these members apart to disengage the driving elements 270 and 271. With these elements disengaged there is no driving connection between the clutch elements; and, accordingly, there is no retraction of hammer 198 by the cam 132 on clutch output element 258. Therefore, with the clutch elements disengaged, there are no axial impacts on tool 32, but only rotation of the latter. This is produced from motor 26 through pinion 114, clutch input member 262,a pinion 282 fixed to the clutch input member for rotation therewith, ad the. gear 230 on tool holder 200.

The mode of action (rotation or rotation plus axial impact) is selected by manipulation of selector mechanism 284. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8," this mechanism includes a selector knob 286 threaded on a boss 288 at the forward end of easing section 290. Accordingly, as nob 286 is rotated, it moves toward and away from clutch input member 262 as indicated by the doubleheaded arrow 292 in FIG. 7;

loosely through holes 294 in boss are'pins 296. A pressure member 298 abuts the; inner ends of these pins.

Pressure member 298 is dimensioned to abut the hub 300 of clutchinput member 262.

With knob 286 of the selector mechanism positioned as shown in FIG. 7, pressure member 298 displaces clutch input member 262 to the left as shown in this figure to a degree sufficient to engage the drive elements 271 onthis member with the drive elements 270 on'the output member. According y both" rotary motion of and axial impacts on tool 32 are produced. For.-

rotary motion only knob 286 is backed off to the position shown in dotted linesand identified by reference character 302 in FIG. 7. This retractspressure plate 298, allowing clutch spring 264 to move clutch input element 262 to the right as shown in FIG. 7 and disengage drive elements 270 and 271. As discussed above,

only rotational movement of tool 32 is produced with the clutch drive elements disengaged.

Rotary hammer 256 may also have various features discussed above in conjunction with the embodiments mounted on intermediate shaft 118 between retainer 266 and bearing 268 and is free to rotate about the intermediate shaft, but is prevented from moving axially relative to the shaft.

Clutch input member 262 is secured to the shaft as by a key (not shown) which allows it to slide along but compels it to rotate with the shaft. Cooperating, engageable, drive elements or teeth 270 and 271 of conventional configuration are formed on the apposed faces 272 and 274 of the output and input members,

V respectively.

Clutch input element 262 also has around its periphery gear teeth 276 which mesh with the teeth of the pinion 114 at the end of motor shaft 102. Accordingly, with clutch elements 270 and 271 engaged,

I :the motor output shaft rotates clutch input element 262. The latter drive clutch output member 258, causing earn 132 to retract driver 198 in substantially the same member as the corresponding cam component does in rotary hammer 196.

of FIGS. 114 6. One example is the arrangement for supporting the front end of driver 198 discussed above in conjunction with the embodiment of FIG. 6.

As will be apparent from the foregoing to those skilled in the arts to which the present invention pertains, many modifications may be made in the exemplary embodiments discussed above without exceeding the scope of the invention. To the extent that such modifications are within the scope of the-appended claims, they are fully intended to be covered therein.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all-respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appendedclaims rather than by the foregoing'description; and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

Abu'tting the inner side-of knob-286 extending 1. A rotary hammer or like device having one configuration in which it is operative to rotate and axially impact a tool and a second configuration in which only rotation is imparted to the tool, comprising a tool receiving holder; means for rotating a tool received in said holder; and means for imparting axial impacts to the tool comprising a rectilinearly moveable driver; means biasing said driver toward said tool holder and an axially movable cam means mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of reciprocation of the driver and engageable therewith for retracting the driver relative to said tool receiving holder and then releasing said driver for movement toward said tool under the influence of said biasing means to impart an impact thereto; and means selectively adjustable to maintain said driver out of engagement with said cam means to keep axial impacts from being imparted to said holder, whereby there is rotation only of said holder and a tool secured therein.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said selectively adjustable means comprises a bipositional member effective in one position to lock said driver in a retracted position relative to said tool and tool receiving holder, said member being disposed out of the path of movement of said driver in the other position thereof.

3. The device of claim 2, including a casing surrounding the tool receiving holder, the means for rotating the holder and the imparting mechanism and wherein the selectively adjustable means comprises a shaft rotatably supported in and extending through said casing, said bipositional member being fixed eccentrically to the inner end of said shaft.

4. A rotary hammer or like device comprising a tool receiving holder; means for rotating said holder and thereby rotating a tool received therein; and means for imparting axial impacts to said tool including an axially immovable, cylindrical bearing, an impact imparting driver slidable in and supported solely by said bearing and having a recess in the end thereof facing the tool holder into which said holder can extend, and means for alternately retracting said driver out of and moving it into engagement with said tool receiving holder to produce an axial impact thereon.

5. The device of claim 4, including a casing surrounding said tool receiving holder, the means for rotating the holder, and the driver retracting means; a support for the drive supporting bearing formed in said casing; and a compression spring disposed between said casing and said driver to bias said driver toward said tool receiving holder.

6. A rotary hammer or like device, comprising a tool receiving holder; a tool received in said holder for rotation therewith; means for rotating said holder and thereby said tool; a driver mounted for rectilinear movement in a path extending in the same direction as the longitudinal axis of said too], said driver being positioned to impart axial impacts to said tool upon movement toward said holder and said tool; an axially fixed, rotatable cam means disposed to one side of said driver and said tool holder which is engageable with the end of the driver nearest the tool and tool receiving holder for alternately displacing said driver away from said for rot tin 7. Tl ie holder and releasing said driver for movement toward said tool and said tool receiving holder under the influence of said biasing means as it rotates; and means said cam evlce of claim 6, wherein the means for displacing the driver comprises a casing surrounding said tool receiving holder, the means for rotating said holder, and the impact imparting mechanism; a cam; means mounting said cam for rotary movement in said casing; and means for rotating said cam.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the cam is incorporated in a component having gear means formed thereon and wherein the means for rotating the cam includes a motor having an output shaft, there being a second gear means on said output shaft meshing with the gear means on the component in which the cam is incorporated.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein there are third and fourth intermeshing gear means formed on the member in which the cam is incorporated and the tool receiving holder, respectively, thereby drive-connecting said tool receiving holder to said motor.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the means mounting said cam for rotation in said casing comprises a rotatable shaft about which said cam is free to rotate and wherein the means for rotating said cam comprises a gear means fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith; a motor having an output shaft; a second gear means on said shaft meshing with the first-mentioned gear means; and cooperating, engageable drive elements on said first-mentioned gear means and said cam, whereby said cam is drive-connected to said motor for rotation thereby when said cooperating drive elements are engaged.

l l. The device of claim 10, together with means biasing said drive elements out of engagement and means for maintaining said elements in driving engagement despite the force exerted by said biasing means.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein the means mounting said cam is a shaft rotatably mounted in said casing to which the cam is rotatably fixed and wherein the means for rotating the cam includes a motor having an output shaft disposed with its axis of rotation at right angles to the axis of rotation of the cam mounting shaft, there being meshing bevel gear means on said motor 7 output shaft and on said cam supporting shaft.

13. A rotary hammer or like device, comprising a tool receiving holder; means for rotating said holder to thereby impart rotary movement to a tool received in said holder; and means for imparting axial impacts to the tool including a rectilinearly movable driver, resilient means biasing said driver toward said holder, a cam, means mounting said cam for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said driver, means for retracting said driver relative to said tool receiving holder and then releasing said driver for movement toward said tool holder under the influence of said biasing means; and means for rotating said can means which includes a motor having a rotatable output shaft disposed with its axis of rotation at right angles to the axis of rotation of the cam means and means drive-connecting said motor output shaft to said cam means. 

1. A rotary hammer or like device having one configuration in which it is operative to rotate and axially impact a tool and a second configuration in which only rotation is imparted to the tool, comprising a tool receiving holder; means for rotating a tool received in said holder; means for imparting axial impacts to the tool comprising a rectilinearly moveable driver, means biasing said driver toward said tool holder and an axially movable cam means mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of reciprocation of the driver and engageable therewith for retracting the driver relaTive to said tool receiving holder and then releasing said driver for movement toward said tool under the influence of said biasing means to impart an impact thereto; and means selectively adjustable to maintain said driver out of engagement with said cam means to keep axial impacts from being imparted to said holder, whereby there is rotation only of said holder and a tool secured therein.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said selectively adjustable means comprises a bipositional member effective in one position to lock said driver in a retracted position relative to said tool and tool receiving holder, said member being disposed out of the path of movement of said driver in the other position thereof.
 3. The device of claim 2, including a casing surrounding the tool receiving holder, the means for rotating the holder and the imparting mechanism and wherein the selectively adjustable means comprises a shaft rotatably supported in and extending through said casing, said bipositional member being fixed eccentrically to the inner end of said shaft.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the cam means is incorporated in a component having gear means formed thereon and including means for rotating the cam means which includes a motor having an output shaft, there being a second gear means on said output shaft meshing with the gear means on the component in which the cam means is incorporated.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein there are third and fourth intermeshing gear means formed on the component in which the cam means is incorporated and the tool receiving holder, respectively, thereby drive-connecting said tool receiving holder to said motor.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the means mounting said cam means for rotation comprises a rotatable shaft about which said cam means is free to rotate and including means for rotating said cam means which comprises a gear means fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith; a motor having an output shaft; a second gear means on said shaft meshing with the first-mentioned gear means; and cooperating, engageable drive elements on said first-mentioned gear means and said cam means, whereby said cam means is drive-connected to said motor for rotation thereby when said cooperating drive elements are engaged.
 7. The device of claim 6, together with means biasing said drive elements out of engagement and means for maintaining said elements in driving engagement despite the force exerted by said biasing means.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the means mounting said cam means is a rotatably mounted shaft to which the cam means is rotatably fixed and including means for rotating the cam means which includes a motor having an output shaft disposed with its axis of rotation at right angles to the axis of rotation of the cam means mounting shaft, there being meshing bevel gear means on said motor output shaft and on said cam means mounting shaft.
 9. A rotary hammer or like device comprising a tool receiving holder; means for rotating said holder and thereby rotating a tool received therein; and means for imparting axial impacts to said tool including an axially immovable, cylindrical bearing, an impact imparting driver slidable in and supported solely by said bearing and having a recess in the end thereof facing the tool holder into which said holder can extend, and means for alternately retracting said driver out of and moving it into engagement with said tool receiving holder to produce an axial impact thereon.
 10. The device of claim 9, including a casing surrounding said tool receiving holder, the means for rotating the holder, and the driver retracting means; a support for the drive supporting bearing formed in said casing; and a compression spring disposed between said casing and said driver to bias said driver toward said tool receiving holder.
 11. A rotary hammer or like device, comprising a tool receiving holder; a tool received in said holder for rotation therewith; means for rotating said holder and thereby said tooL; a driver mounted for rectilinear movement in a path extending in the same direction as the longitudinal axis of said tool, said driver being positioned to impart axial impacts to said tool upon movement toward said holder and said tool; an axially fixed, rotatable cam means disposed to one side of said driver and said tool holder which is engageable with the end of the driver nearest the tool and tool receiving holder for alternately displacing said driver away from said holder and releasing said driver for movement toward said tool and said tool receiving holder under the influence of said biasing means as it rotates; and means for rotating said cam.
 12. A rotary hammer or like device, comprising a tool receiving holder; means for rotating said holder to thereby impart rotary movement to a tool received in said holder; and means for imparting axial impacts to the tool including a rectilinearly movable driver, resilient means biasing said driver toward said holder, a cam means and means mounting said cam means for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said driver for retracting said driver relative to said tool receiving holder and then releasing said driver for movement toward said tool holder under the influence of said biasing means; and means for rotating said cam means which includes a motor having a rotatable output shaft disposed with its axis of rotation at right angles to the axis of rotation of the cam means and means drive-connecting said motor output shaft to said cam means. 